Detachable heel



April l2, 1960 B, v DARD|G 2,932,099

DETACHABLE HEEL Filed Oct. 30, 1958 United States Patenti Y DETACHABLE HEEL Ben V. Dardig, New York, N.Y.

' Application October 30, 1958, Serial No. 770,638

Z Claims. (Cl. 36-36) This invention relates generally to the eld of footwear, and more particularly to an improved type of detachable heel for shoes. Devices of this type are generally known in the art, and the invention resides in Vspecific constructional details. l

One of the principal disadvantages of heel constructions of this type lies in the fact that the same may become `accidentally detached from the shoe should the heel portion alone be contacted by the shoes of a person standing behind the wearer, a not uncommon occurrence in crowded places. When this happens, the heel will swing about an axis co-incident with the front edge of the heel, and become quickly detached from the heel base.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved detachable heel construction having means for preventing the accidental detachment of the heel from the shoe in the manner above described.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of detachable heel construction which may be readily intentionally attached and detached by the wearer with a facility comparable to that in existing prior art devices. t Still another object of the inveniton lies in the provision of structure of the class described and possessed of the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.V

A feature of the invention lies in the ready adaptability of the inventive structure to both wood-based and metalbased heel constructions.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a detachable heel lift formed in accordance with the present invention- Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the corresponding heel-base element upon which the heel element is engaged.

Figure 3 is an exploded sectional view showing the interlocking fastener elements which comprise a part of the embodiment.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional vertical view showing the heel and heel-base elements in engaged and interlocked condition.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional vertical view, corresponding to that seen on Figure 4, but showing an alternate form of the embodiment.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to that seen on Figure 3 but showing the parts in assembled condition.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, partly 2,932,099 Patented Apr. 12, 1960 ICC in elevation, showing a second alternate form of the invention.

In accordancewith the invention, the device comprises broadly: a plurality of male fastener elements 11; a plurality of female fastener elements 12, a heel base 13, and a heel lift 14, all of which comprise part of a shoe, generally indicated by reference character 15. The heel lift 14 may be of a conventional construction, including a wood base or core 17, and a rubber tread 18. A plurality of recesses 19, 20 and 21 arranged in a triangular pattern with the recess 19 disposed rearwardly with respect to the heel part of the shoe are provided in the base or core 17, the same providing for 4the mounting of the female fastener elements 12 by screw means 22.

The heel base element 13 may be of leather, and is secured to the sole 23`by nails 24 in well-known manner. Distributed in areas 25, 26 and 27 corresponding to the recesses 19-21, are the male fastener elements 11, being secured to the heel base element by screw means 28.

The male fastener elements 11 are generally similar (with the exception to be hereinafter explained), and accordingly, a detailed description of one of such elements will serve to describe al1. Each element includes a heel-base engaging flange 30, a beaded portion or flange 31, and a central portion 32 having an opening 33 for the entrance ofrscrew means 28.

TheV female fastener elements 12 are also generally similar, and accordingly, a description of one of such elements will suffice for all. Each element includes a snap ring retaining portion 35, a resilient annular snap Aring 36 disposed therein, a recessor socket-forming portion 37 and a heel-element engaging portion 38. The

heel-element engaging portion 38 is provided with a central opening 39 through which the screw means 22 may pass to be engaged in the base 17 of the heel liftf14. As best seen in Figure 3 on the drawing, such illustrating the rearwardly disposed interlocking fastener elements of the fasteners preferably employed to secure therearward portions of the heel lift and the heel base against accidental separation, the heel engaging portion 38 is provided with a downwardly extending tab 40 which, in engaged condition, as shown in Figure 4, extends into the body of the base or core 17. The engagement of the tab 40 prevents axial rotation of the female fastener element 12 with respect to the heel lift 14. Extending over the snap ring 36 at the rearward portion thereof, is a second tab 41 which extends into the socket opening of said female fastener element and beneath which the beaded or flanged portion 31 of the male fastener element 11 engages upon said latter being mated with said female element by movement thereinto. From a consideration of Figure 4 it will be apparent that, consequent to the location of said tab 41 engagement of the male fastener elements 11 with the female fastener elements 12 may be accomplished only by first engaging the rearwardmost portion of the beaded portion 31 beneath the tab 41, following which, by using a rotational motion, the forward part of the beaded portion 31 is snapped beneath the ring 36, which rotational motion also effects engagement of the other or forward male and female fastener elements. This movement involves a counter-clockwise motion as seen on Figure 4, which is the exact opposite of that which would be encountered should the rearward portion of the heel element 14 be contacted by the foot of a person standing behind the wearer. said action of the parts 31, 36 and 41, detachment of the heel lift is possible only by imparting a prying-off force to the forward edge portion of the heel lift, which As a consequence of the aforeforce tends to tip said heel lift downwardly-forwardly/ 3S .first effects disengagement of the forwardmost body' portion or flange 31 of the rearward male element ,117,

to prevent disengagement of the heel lift by rearward Y movement or force, the rearward pair o f `fastener ele ments of the invention prevents accidental heel detachment resulting from more or less straight downward movement of the heel element caused by a 'kick or like force applied to its rear-edge portion.

In the alternate form of the embodiment shown on Figure 5, the wood base or core 17 is replaced by a metal heel plate 44, and rivet means 45 replaces the screw means Z2. In this construction, thertab 46 may be positioned at the line of interconnection 47 between the rubber portion 48 and the heel plate 44. In other respects, the construction is identical with the principal form of the embodiment shown on Figure 4. It is to be observed that the tab 46 may be positioned at any desired point, since its sole function is to prevent rotation of the female element 12 with respect to the heel lift 14.

In the second alternate form of the invention, the heel .base generally indicated by reference character 13 is eliminated, and the attachment of heel lift 14 is directly to the integral rear-end or heel portion of the sole 23.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

. I claim:

l. In a combination heel base and detachable heel lift therefor, the improvement comprising: a pair of rst and second resilient, interconnected, detachable fastener elements; said first fastener element being associated with said heel base, said second fastener element being associated with said heel lift, said second fastener element being of a female type having a socket member receiving a resiliently expandible ring therein and having a tab member connected to the socket member and extending over a segment of said expandible ring which is disposed rearwardly with respect to said heel lift, and said first element being of a male type and having a lower outwardly extending flange adapted upon mating of said elements to move past said expandible ring and thereupon to interlock with said tab member in such a way as to prevent disengagement of the fastener elements by a rearward or a straight downward movement, whereby the lift is detachably Yyet securely fastened to the heel base.

2. In a combination heel base and detachable heel lift therefor, the improvement comprising: pairs of first and second resilient, interconnected, separable fastener elements, said irst fastener elements being associated with the heel base, said second fastener elements being associated With said heel lift, one pair of first and second fastener elements being located at the rear of said heel base and lift, the second fastener element of said pair being of a female type having a socket member receiving a resiliently expandible ring therein and further having means extending within the socket of said socket member and at a segment thereof which is dis posed rearwardly with respect to said heel lift, and the first fastener element of said one pair being of a male type adapted to mate with said second fastener element and having a lower, outwardly extending flange adapted upon mating of said fastener elements to move past said expandible ring and thereupon interlock with said means in such manner as to prevent disengagement of the mated fastener elements by a rearward or straight downward movement, whereby the lift is detachably yet securely fastened. to the heel base.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 699,111 Melavin Apr. 29, 1902 955,100 Peterson Apr. 12, 1910 1,366,518 Buchman Jan. 25, 1921 1,716,855 Kamada June 11, 1929 1,986,727 Hall Jan. 1, 1935 2,239,600 Fogarty Apr. 22, 1941 2,341,209 Cintron Feb. 8, 1944 2,478,810 Deschenes et al Aug. 9, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 423,350 Great Britain Jan. 30, 1935 

